Noise reduction device of refrigeration equipment

ABSTRACT

A noise reduction device for reducing noise in refrigeration equipment includes at least one transition tube having a diameter gradually increasing from a capillary of the refrigeration equipment to an evaporator of the refrigeration equipment. The refrigerant liquid is circulated through the noise reduction device.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to refrigeration equipment, and more particularly to a noise reduction device in refrigeration equipment.

BACKGROUND

Generally, refrigeration equipment such as a refrigerator uses refrigerant liquid. The refrigerant liquid is cycled between a gaseous phase and a liquid phase. The refrigerant liquid may produce noise during transition between the gaseous phase and the liquid phase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of embodiments only, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a cycle of refrigerant liquid in refrigeration equipment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a first embodiment of a structure of a noise reduction device of the refrigeration equipment in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 showing the first embodiment of the structure of the noise reduction device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a second embodiment of a structure of a noise reduction device in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Additionally, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other word that “substantially” modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of refrigeration equipment 100 including a compressor 11, a condenser 12, a dry filter 13, a capillary 14, a noise reduction device 15, and an evaporator 16. Air having a low temperature and low pressure flows into the compressor 11. The compressor 11 compresses the air, and the compressed air has a high temperature and high pressure. The compressed air flows from the compressor 11 to the condenser 12 to be cooled. The air cooled by the condenser 12 has a low temperature and a high pressure. The cooled air having a low temperature and a high pressure flows through the dry filter 13 into the capillary 14. The air flowed into the capillary is condensed into a refrigerant liquid having a low temperature and low pressure. The refrigerant liquid is passed from the capillary 14 to the evaporator 16 through the noise reduction device 15. The refrigerant liquid flowing into the evaporator 16 is evaporated into air having a low temperature and low pressure. The air having a low temperature and low pressure is once again passed through the compressor 11, and the cycle continues as described above.

The noise reduction device 15 includes at least one transition tube through which the refrigerant liquid flows from the capillary 14 to the evaporator 16. A diameter of the at least one transition tube gradually increases from the capillary 14 to the evaporator 16. The gradually increasing diameter of the transition tube reduces a speed of flow of the refrigerant liquid from the capillary 14 to the evaporator 16, thereby preventing a sputtering noise caused by a speed of flow of the refrigerant liquid being too fast from the capillary 14 to the evaporator 16. Referring to FIG. 2, the noise reduction device 15 further includes a damping adhesive 154 for further reducing noise of the refrigerant liquid during a transition from the capillary 14 to the evaporator 16. It should be understood that the refrigeration equipment 100 further includes a fan, a humidity control system, a housing, and other components which will not be discussed herein.

FIGS. 2-3 show a first embodiment of a structure of the noise reduction device 15. In one embodiment, the noise reduction device 15 includes a first transition tube 151, a second transition tube 152, and a coupling portion 153. A first end of the first transition tube 151 is coupled to the capillary 14, a second end of the first transition tube 151 opposite to the first end is coupled to a first end of the second transition tube 152 through the coupling portion 153. A second end of the second transition tube 152 opposite to the first end is coupled to the evaporator 16. In one embodiment, an inner diameter ΦA of the first transition tube 151 is greater than an inner diameter of the capillary 14, and an inner diameter ΦB of the second transition tube 152 is greater than the inner diameter ΦA of the first transition tube 151. In one embodiment the inner diameter of the capillary 14 is 1.8 mm, the inner diameter of the first transition tube 151 is 3.2 mm, and the inner diameter of the second transition tube 152 is 4.0 mm. An inner diameter of the coupling portion 153 gradually increases from the first transition tube 151 to the second transition tube 152. An end of the coupling portion 153 directly coupled to the first transition tube 151 is substantially equal to the inner diameter ΦA of the first transition tube 151, and an end of the coupling portion 153 directly coupled to the second transition tube 152 is substantially equal to the inner diameter ΦB of the second transition tube 152.

In the first embodiment, a length of the first transition tube 151 is equal to a length of the second transition tube 152. For example, the length of the first transition tube 151 is 140 mm, and the length of the second transition tube 152 is 140 mm.

In the first embodiment, the damping adhesive 154 covers over a connecting joint between the first transition tube 151 and the capillary 14 and a connecting joint between the second transition tube 152 and the evaporator 16. In other embodiments, the damping adhesive 154 covers from the connecting joint between the first transition tube 151 and the capillary 14 to the connecting joint between the second transition tube 152 and the evaporator 16.

In the first embodiment, the first transition tube 151 is coupled to the capillary 14 by welding, and the second transition tube 152 is coupled to the evaporator 16 by welding. In other embodiments, the first transition tube 151 may be coupled to the capillary 14 by other means, such as by screwing, and the second transition tube 152 may be coupled to the evaporator 16 by other means, such as by screwing.

In the first embodiment, the first transition tube 151, the coupling portion 153, and the second transition tube 152 are integrally formed. In other embodiments, the first transition tube 151, the coupling portion 153, and the second transition tube 152 are coupled together by welding or by other means.

In the first embodiment, the first transition tube 151, the second transition tube 152, and the coupling portion 153 are made of copper. In other embodiments, the first transition tube 151, the second transition tube 152, and the coupling portion 153 may be made of stainless steel or other material.

In the first embodiment, inner walls of the first transition tube 151, the second transition tube 152, and the coupling portion 153 are smooth.

In the first embodiment, an end portion 1521 of the second transition tube 152 coupled to the evaporator 16 is a rounded connecting joint. In another embodiment, an end portion of the first transition tube 151 coupled to the capillary 14 may also be a rounded connecting joint.

In other embodiments, the noise reduction device 15 may include more than two transition tubes, such as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the structure of the noise reduction device 15. In the second embodiment, the noise reduction device 15 includes transition tubes 151 a, 151 b, and 151 c. The transition tube 151 a is coupled to the capillary 14, and the transition tube 151 c is coupled to the evaporator 16. The damping adhesive 154 covers over a junction between the transition tube 151 a and the capillary 14 and a junction between the transition tube 151 c and the evaporator 16. It should be understood that the damping adhesive 154 may further cover all points of the transition tubes 151 a, 151 b, and 151 c.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A noise reduction device in refrigeration equipment, the noise reduction device comprising at least one transition tube having a diameter gradually increasing from a capillary of the refrigeration equipment to an evaporator of the refrigeration equipment, wherein refrigerant liquid is circulated through the noise reduction device.
 2. The noise reduction device of claim 1 comprising a first transition tube, a second transition tube, and a coupling portion, wherein: a first end of the first transition tube is coupled to the capillary, and a second end opposite to the first end of the first transition tube is coupled to a first end of the second transition tube through the coupling portion; a second end opposite to the first end of the second transition tube is coupled to the evaporator; an inner diameter of the first transition tube is greater than an inner diameter of the capillary; an inner diameter of the second transition tube is greater than the inner diameter of the first transition tube; an inner diameter of the coupling portion gradually increases from the first transition tube to the second transition tube; the inner diameter of the coupling portion directly coupled to the first transition tube is same as the inner diameter of the first transition tube; the inner diameter of the coupling portion directly coupled to the second transition tube is same as the inner diameter of the second transition tube.
 3. The noise reduction device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one transition tube is coupled to the capillary by welding; and the at least one transition tube is coupled to the evaporator by welding.
 4. The noise reduction device of claim 1, further comprising a damping adhesive covered around the at least one transition tube.
 5. The noise reduction device of claim 4, wherein the damping adhesive is covered around each point of the at least one transition tube where the inner diameter of the transition tube changes.
 6. The noise reduction device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transition tube is an integrally formed piece.
 7. The noise reduction device of claim 1, wherein the at least one transition tube is made of copper.
 8. The noise reduction device of claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the at least one transition tube is smooth.
 9. The noise reduction device of claim 1, wherein an end of the at least one transition tube coupled to the evaporator is a rounded connection joint.
 10. Refrigeration equipment comprising: a compressor; a condenser; a capillary; an evaporator; and a noise reduction device comprising at least one transition tube having a diameter gradually increasing from the capillary to the evaporator, wherein: refrigerant liquid is circulated through the compressor, the condenser, the capillary, and the evaporator.
 11. The refrigeration equipment of claim 10, wherein: the noise reduction device comprises a first transition tube, a second transition tube, and a coupling portion; a first end of the first transition tube is coupled to the capillary, and a second end opposite to the first end of the first transition tube is coupled to a first end of the second transition tube through the coupling portion; a second end opposite to the first end of the second transition tube is coupled to the evaporator; an inner diameter of the first transition tube is greater than an inner diameter of the capillary; an inner diameter of the second transition tube is greater than the inner diameter of the first transition tube; an inner diameter of the coupling portion gradually increases from the first transition tube to the second transition tube; the inner diameter of the coupling portion directly coupled to the first transition tube is same as the inner diameter of the first transition tube; the inner diameter of the coupling portion directly coupled to the second transition tube is same as the inner diameter of the second transition tube.
 12. The refrigeration equipment of claim 10, wherein: the at least one transition tube is coupled to the capillary by welding; and the at least one transition tube is coupled to the evaporator by welding.
 13. The refrigeration equipment of claim 10, wherein the noise reduction device further comprises a damping adhesive covered around the at least one transition tube.
 14. The refrigeration equipment of claim 13, wherein the damping adhesive is covered around each point of the at least one transition tube where the inner diameter of the transition tube changes.
 15. The refrigeration equipment of claim 10, wherein the at least one transition tube is an integrally formed piece.
 16. The refrigeration equipment of claim 10, wherein the at least one transition tube is made of copper.
 17. The refrigeration equipment of claim 10, wherein an inner wall of the at least one transition tube is smooth.
 18. The refrigeration equipment of claim 10, wherein an end of the at least one transition tube coupled to the evaporator is a rounded connection joint. 